The Indian women's football team has ended the year with a statement victory of 14-0 over Maldives in a FIFA international friendly. The Blue Tigresses marked a statement win at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence on Monday, December 30, 2024.

Full-time! 🔚
Goals galore to end 2024 💪🇮🇳💙 #INDMDV #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/jxPNkMxFab

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) December 30, 2024

Pyari Xaxa and debutant Lynda Kom Serto each finished with hat-tricks, scoring three and four goals respectively. Neha and Kajol Dsouza contributed two goals each, while Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, and Rimpa Haldar each accounted for one goal.

India’s newly-appointed Swedish coach, Joakim Alexandersson has marked a strong start with this victory and he will look forward to a second friendly against the same opponent at the same venue on January 2, 2025.

Dominating performance from the Blue Tigresses

Alexandersson previously announced 14 new names who got included in the 23-member squad for the friendly, marking a significant transition for the women's team.

However, eight of those players received some minutes against Maldives along with familiar names such as Grace Dangmei, Sangita Basfore, Sanju Yadav, Pyari Xaxa, and Ranjana Chanu.

8-0 lead at the break

The Blue Tigresses started the riot only seven minutes into the game as Pyari Xaxa volleyed the ball in following Lynda Kom's cross to open the books. In the very next minute, Xaxa again scored after Maldives goalkeeper Aminath Leeza failed to grip a long-ranger strike from Sangita Basfore.

However, Xaxa complimented Lynda back in the 12th minute with a swift cross which Lynda converted to score her first senior international goal. Pyari Xaxa completed her hat-trick from a corner kick in the 15th minute. 

Only a minute later, another debutant Neha also scored her first senior international goal. In the 21st minute, Neha delivered a sublime cross for Lynda, who scored to register a brace.  

Lynda Kom Serto made her debut memorable in the best possible way as the 19-year-old striker scored her third in the 29th minute. The ruthless riot from the Tigresses came to a halt for half-time, but Neha scored her second goal right before the half-time whistle to help India head into the break with an 8-0 lead. 

Continuing the riot

The Indian team started the second half in the same manner as Sangita Basfore scored within six minutes. Right after scoring, Sangita provided an assist for Lynda in the 52nd minute who scored her fourth goal and took India to a 10-0 lead. 

Defender Ranjana Chanu joined the party after converting a right-footed strike in the 54th minute. Kajol Dsouza, who made her debut replacing Lynda in the 56th minute, showcased her brilliance with two exquisite goals in the 59th and the 66th minute.

Rimpa Halder, another substitute, who replaced Pyari in the 56th minute also entered the scoresheet by scoring in the 62nd minute. 

However, after having a 14-0 lead with almost twenty minutes left to play, the Indian team ceased their scoring spree and opted to control possession while experimenting with different midfield play patterns.

Full-time score

India -14 (Pyari 7’, 18, 15’, Lynda 12’, 21’, 29’, 52’, Neha 16’, 45’, Kajol 59’, 66’, Sangita 51’, Ranjana Chanu 54’, Rimpa 62’)
Maldives - 0

Mohun Bagan Super Giant came back from trailing to beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League 2024-25 Final. 

The Blues took the lead in the 49th minute of the game through an own goal from the Mariners. However, the 2024-25 ISL League Shield Winners turned the tables around in the 72nd minute when they pulled off the equalizer from the spotkick.

In the added extra time, Mohun Bagan SG netted the winner in the 96th minute to ensure their historic league double: winning the shield and the cup in the same season!

Read Also | Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2024-25 Final Highlights | Mohun Bagan complete the league double, wins the ISL Cup coming from behind | FT MBSG 2-1 BFC

So, it's time we look at the ISL winners' List since 2014.

Read Also: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC ISL 2023-24 Final Highlights | Mumbai win the ISL 2023-24 beating Mohun Bagan by 3-1

Who won the first ISL title?

In the inaugural season, ATK, formerly known as Atlético de Kolkata, were crowned the winner as they defeated Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the final. Mohammed Rafique scored an injury-time goal to win the game for his side under head coach Antonio Lopez Habas. The 2014 season featured eight teams, each playing 14 matches during the regular season.

Who have won the most ISL titles?

ATK have been the most dominant team, having secured the title three times. They were dissolved and merged with Mohun Bagan SG (ATK Mohun Bagan previously), who have won the title twice, in the 2024-25 and in the 2022-23 season. 

Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC are the teams who have lifted the titles twice. Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC have also won one title each.

Read Also: ISL 2023-24: Top Goal Scorers List

ISL Winners List since 2014

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's coverage of the Indian Super League 2024-25 Final.

Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the ultimate showdown between Mohun Bagan SG and Bengaluru FC at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. 

Mohun Bagan SG will leave no stone unturned to complete the 'league double' by lifting the ISL Cup after clinching the ISL 2024-25 League Shield, whereas Bengaluru FC will look to avenge their defeat in the 2022-23 season's final to the same opponents and win the Cup.

Read Also | Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2024-25 Final Match Preview: Head-to-head Stats, Previous Records

As the intense drama is all set to unfold tonight for the last time this season, just sit back and enjoy the match as we provide you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scores.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appeals Committee has made a big move to speed up the confirmation of the I-League Champions. The much-awaited meeting on April 28 has now been rescheduled for April 12, paving the way for a timely end to the thrilling title contest.

🚨AIFF appeals committee meeting will take place on 12th April !
Most probably we will get the official I-League winners on the 12th !

[⚠️ Rules are very clear , if AIFF fails to give justice then Inter Kashi will explore new options including CAS ] pic.twitter.com/ivYsu4aVZy

— Inter Kashi Xtra (@IkfcXtra) April 11, 2025

In the present scenario, the focus has shifted to provisional leaders Churchill Brothers and their closest challengers, Inter Kashi. The latter is optimistic of gaining another three points from a game played against Namdhari in January that could tip the title in their direction.

Besides being eligible for a cash award of INR 1 crore, the league champion also earns promotion to the prestigious Indian Super League, India's highest-tier men's football.

Read Also | Kalinga Super Cup 2025: Fixture, Details and Everything you need to know

AIFF Appeal Committee to meet on April 12

At first, the AIFF Disciplinary Committee awarded Inter Kashi three points from Namdhari for using an ineligible player, Cledson Carvalho da Silva, who had accumulated an excess of yellow cards. However, this verdict was suspended on March 27 by the Appeals Committee, spreading further uncertainty across both clubs.

As the season draws to a close, both clubs are in a position of nervous anticipation about their immediate future and prospective transfer plans. The AIFF is now under intense pressure from both Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi to come to a quick resolution.

Anil Kshatriya, who is a member of the Appeals Committee and plays a vital role in it,m has confirmed the new date of the meeting, assuring that the decision-making process will be unbiased.  When asked about this matter, he said to Sportstar, "Yes, the Committee will be meeting on Saturday. We will hear both sides, and only then will we come to a conclusion."

The Appeals Committee is chaired by Retired Justice Rajesh Tandon and includes other members such as Retired Justice Ashok Kumar Tripathi, Kshatriya, and legal expert Diwakar Thite.

I-League 2024-25 Final Standings

As things stand currently, Churchill Brothers is leading with 40 points after 22 matches, and Inter Kashi is trailing by a mere point.

If the extra points are awarded to Kashi, they will enjoy their first-ever I-League championship. If the verdict goes in favor of Churchill, they will claim the third I-League title in their history.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially joined the race to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday.

A record seven member associations have officially shown interest in staging the AFC Asian Cup in 2031, all having submitted their candidatures before the March 31 deadline.

AFC President hails unprecedented response for #AsianCup2031 hosting! https://t.co/rghiwutVO9

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) April 11, 2025

India had previously bid for the 2027 version and had a two-horse race with Saudi Arabia. The AIFF, however, pulled out of the bid without much explanation, leaving the hosting rights to the Gulf country, which will also stage the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

India throws its hat in the ring!

India has officially submitted its expression of interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031, continental’s top competition.

A record number of bids received by AFC - Australia 🇦🇺 South Korea 🇰🇷 Kuwait 🇰🇼 India 🇮🇳 UAE 🇦🇪 Indonesia 🇮🇩 and the…

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) April 11, 2025

Record number of bidders for the AFC Asian Cup 2031

Expanded to 24 teams in 2019, the 2023 edition of the AFC Asian Cup took place in January of 2024 in Qatar, shattering records for attendance, viewing figures, broadcast, and social media usage. 

With the upcoming 2027 edition in Saudi Arabia poised to shatter all previous records once again, now the AFC member countries are all lining up for a piece of the action.

The bidding nations who have lodged their official candidatures include Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and a collective central Asian bid submitted by the Kyrgyz Football Union, Tajikistan Football Federation, and Uzbekistan FA.

Speaking at the AFC’s executive committee meeting ahead of the AFC’s annual congress in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stated:

The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup and on behalf of the AFC Executive Committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our MAs for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy.

He further added:

The AFC Asian Cup is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories and the last edition in Qatar firmly cemented Asia’s flagship as one of the best football competitions in the world,

Hosting the AFC Asian Cup™ has consistently provided tangible and intangible benefits, including infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, organisational expertise, elevated football technical standards and solidifying the host nation’s status as a global sports hub,

The unprecedented level of interest we have witnessed reflects both the high ambitions of the AFC’s Member Associations and their increasing confidence in their own capacities and capabilities to host a tournament as significant as the AFC Asian Cup.

The AFC have officially stated that they will now work with the Bidding MAs in the provision of the required bidding documentation within the stipulated timelines and procedures, with a Bidding Workshop for the AFC Asian Cup 2031 to be conducted later this month.

Subsequently, the bids will be evaluated in totality by the AFC Administration before the host of the 24-team tournament is chosen by the AFC Congress in 2026.

Furthermore, the AFC Executive Committee also endorsed the resolutions of all the Standing Committees, the Organizing Committee for AFC Asian Cup, the AFC Finance Committee, the AFC Competitions Committee, and the AFC Professional Football Committee.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

The eleventh edition of the Indian Super League 2024-25 will drop its curtain through one of the fiercest rivalries on Saturday, 12th April, as Mohun Bagan SG will lock horns with Bengaluru FC in the ISL Cup final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Let us know in the comments! ⤵

Watch #ISLPlayoffs LIVE only on @JioHotstar, #StarSports3, and #AsianetPlus! 📺#ISL #LetsFootball #ISLFinal pic.twitter.com/5opU0fyOZj

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) April 8, 2025

Mohun Bagan SG, the league-shield winners, have sealed their passage to the final with a comeback victory over Jamshedpur FC in the second-leg semi-final, advancing with a 3-2 aggregate.

On the other hand, Bengaluru FC thumped Mumbai City FC 5-0 in the knockout before knocking FC Goa out in the semis, winning 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for the ultimate showdown.

As two of the most successful clubs in Indian football are set to engage in a thrilling encounter, from possible starting XIs to Previous records, here is everything you need to know about the Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC Cup Final in ISL 2024-25.

Driving forces of their teams! 🔥

⚽️ #MBSGBFC | 🏆 #ISLFinal
📅 Apr 12 | Live Coverage: 7PM
📺 LIVE on @JioHotstar, #StarSports3 & #AsianetPlus#ISL #LetsFootball #ISLPlayoffs #MBSG #BengaluruFC | @StarSportsIndia @mohunbagansg @bengalurufc @Jasoncummings35 @GurpreetGK pic.twitter.com/EhIXpC6YBs

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) April 10, 2025

pic.twitter.com/8T2hDy7kH6

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) April 10, 2025

Match Details 

Match: Mohun Bagan SG vs Bengaluru FC - ISL 2024-25 Final

Date: 12 April 2025

Time: 7:30 pm IST

Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata

Broadcasting and Streaming Details

The live telecast of the Final will be available on the Star Sports 3 TV Channel. The live streaming will also be available on the JioHostar App and website.

Team News and Injury Updates: Mohun Bagan SG

Mohun Bagan SG have shown in the second-leg semifinal why they are the winners of the league shield in two consecutive seasons. 

The Mariners faced a 1-2 defeat in the first-leg against Jamshedpur at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, fearing an early bowout from the playoffs. However, the Kolkata giants dominated the whole game in the second leg, winning 2-0 to storm into the final, thanks to Apuia's injury-time stunner.

One more push 🔥💪🏻#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/rB7mplzQV8

— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) April 9, 2025

However, Mohun Bagan SG will definitely leave no stone unturned to prevent the same result as the last season's Cup final, when they bowed down to Mumbai City FC, losing 1-3 and failing to lift the Cup.

This season, the Mariners have not only managed to lift the league shield but also broke numerous ISL records, which have turned their journey into an iconic one. This feat will boost them to clinch the league-double — winning the Shield and the Cup in the same season.

Head coach Jose Molina will have a fully fit squad available for the Final, with Manvir Singh bolstering the attack after coming back from injury. 

Semi-final first leg highlights | Jamshedpur FC vs Mohun Bagan SG ISL 2024-25 Semi-final 2 First Leg Highlights | Javi Hernandez's injury-time winner keeps Jamshedpur ahead in the tie | FT JFC 2-1 MBSG

Semi-final second leg highlights | Mohun Bagan SG vs Jamshedpur FC ISL 2024-25 Semi-final 2 Second Leg Highlights | Apuia's world-class strike in injury-time fires Mohun Bagan into the Final | FT MBSG 2-0 JFC (AGG 3-2)

Team News and Injury Updates: Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC have practically humbled both teams they have faced in playoffs on their way to the Final, despite finishing third on the league table.

The Blues dismantled Mumbai City FC 5-0 in the first knockout to enter the semis. Following that, Bengaluru posted a 2-0 victory over FC Goa in the first leg of their semi-final tie before securing a 3-2 aggregate after the second leg, despite a 1-2 defeat at Fatorda.

One last shift in Bengaluru before the Blues push off to Kolkata for the #ISLFinal. Focus! 💯 #WeAreBFC #MBSGBFC #Ottige #ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ pic.twitter.com/lc4Nf2OKs2

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) April 10, 2025

Bengaluru are on the verge of winning the ISL Cup again after the 2018-19 season, when they defeated FC Goa 1-0 in the final. 

Head coach Gerard Zaragoza will also have a completely fit squad available for selection as they have no injury concerns and will go for the Cup applying their full force.

Semi-final first leg highlights | Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa ISL 2024-25 Semi-final 1 First Leg Highlights | The Blues secure a two-goal cushion in the first semi-final with a convincing win over the Gaurs at home | FT BFC 2-0 FCG

Semi-final second leg highlights | FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2024-25 Semi-final 1 Second Leg Highlights | Sunil Chhetri wins it for the Blues with an injury-time goal; Bengaluru march on to the Final | FT FCG 2-1 BFC (AGG 2-3)

Head-to-Head Stats in ISL

Matches Played: 11

Mohun Bagan SG won: 8

Bengaluru FC won: 2

Draws: 1

Previous records in ISL 

In the Indian Super League history, Mohun Bagan SG have the upper hand in the rivalry against Bengaluru FC, having earned 8 wins across 11 matches, including the victory on penalties in the 2022-23 ISL Cup final. 

2️⃣ OF THE VERY BEST! 🙌

⚽️ #MBSGBFC | 🏆 #ISLFinal
📅 Apr 12 | Live Coverage: 7PM
📺 LIVE on @JioHotstar, #StarSports3 & #AsianetPlus#ISL #LetsFootball #ISLPlayoffs #MBSG #BengaluruFC pic.twitter.com/QW4vHaXJan

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) April 10, 2025

Predicted XIs

Mohun Bagan SG

Vishal Kaith (GK); Asish Rai, Tom Aldred, Alberto Rodrigues, Subhashish Bose; Liston Colaco, Anirudh Thapa, Apuia, Manvir Singh; Jason Cummings; Jamie Maclaren 

Bengaluru FC

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Naorem Roshan Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Rahul Bheke, Namgyal Bhutia; Suresh Singh Wangjam, Alberto Noguera, Pedro Capo; Sunil Chhetri, Edgar Mendez, Ryan Williams